A day off from the nurse life, National Running Day and some eats from my Wednesday!

W.I.A.W., Day in the Life, National Running Day!

Was on call last night and blessed enough that the pager never made a beep. YAY! Buutttt if you have ever carried a pager you know that a good night's sleep doesn't really happen because you are just WAITING for it to go off - my night usually consists of short naps - then jumping up to check my pager and my phone. buuuuttt today was my day off! And any time its over 80 and sunny in ND you take advantage! Spent some time laying out on the deck in the sun and reading! Current reads: Headstrong by Dave Asprey and the Universe has your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein.

I was awake early anyway...so I grabbed my pager and hit the gym and made it there by 4:30 am - LOVE going that early because it's basically empty! Since it's National Running Day I did a 3.5 mile run and then did a short lifting circuit! You can find the deets on my lifting circuit on my facebook or instagram page!

Not going to lie - I'm digging these new leggings from gymshark! Have you seen them? Gotta love a legging that makes you look like you have some booty..Plus they are SUPER comfy! Wishing I would have sized down thought, because they are pretty stretchy! What are your favorite leggings/workout pants?

What a happy accident! - Chili cheese Fritos on a side salad...thank me later! This was at supper! I had a side salad along with some pork tenderloin that I made in the crockpot! In a crockpot I added: A seared pork tenderloin rubbed with Trader Joe's "coffee BBQ seasoning", pepper, garlic powder, some splashes of balsamic, red wine vinegar and a drizzle of honey! I also added 2 cups of water and turned the crockpot to high for four hours. The meat falls apart when it's done!

At lunch time I had another pita! I stuffed it with leftover meat, some of this leftover roasted cauliflower and seriously EVERYTHING and anything I could find to use up in the fridge. Still obsessing over the Joseph's brand pitas... have you tried them yet?

I didn't take a picture of breakfast but it was an omelette with vegan vanilla Shakeology pancakes! (with fresh blueberries of course) I SWEAR that meal will never get old!

Nightly snack all week has been these! Shakeology ice cream with cookie dough balls! My own blizzard at home...and it has SERIOUSLY been helping me stay on track with nutrition...that is a win win!

So this happened...I realized the other day that my planner runs out of pages at the end of June! I apparently bought a "school year" version - I have been loving the Day Designer planners the last couples years, but in 2017 I ended up just getting the Target version (for the record I DO miss my Day Designer!) - To tie me over until 2018 I hit up Michael's and found this beauty! Yes it has glitter that floats around. Yes it has stickers. And yes it SO REMINDS ME of Lisa Frank! (my elementary trapper keeper lover is totally satisfied!) - Do you have a planner and if so what kind are you loving?

Instagram stories are the bomb - loving these filters even when they are unflattering and I have a crazy look on my face... You digging the instagram stories? or do you still prefer snapchat?

Wednesday was National Running Day - So I thought I would share a few thoughts about what running means to me.

1. In high school running was viewed as a punishment. Running laps for missed volleyball serves, what you HAVE to do to get ready for a sports season, doing sprints to condition ourselves for basketball. In college I started getting addicted as a stress relief and an escape from nursing school. I even trained myself to read my notes while running! That way I didn't have to "feel guilty" for stepping way from studying for a test ... I could get them BOTH in!

2. I worked at a running store during college - one that my brother in law and sister were part owners in. I learned so much about what it means to be a part of the running community. I learned about how to fit people properly for shoes, helped choose running apparel for the store and also about training for various runs and helped out with training groups too.

3. Running means rolling with the punches. There will be ups and downs with injuries, hardships, crossing finishing lines in tears of happiness and in tears of pain. Some days you will fly through your run and feel like you could run forever...and there will be days that COMPLETELY suck and your legs feel like they are attached to the concrete you are on. Embrace it all.

4. A great run still to me feels like a clean slate and a breath of fresh air. A way to clear my head. There is something about the burning in your lungs, the loss of your breath and the pounding of your heart that helps put me at ease and is my therapy.

5. There is a time to run. A time to rest. A time to step away or a while and do other workouts, but my heart will always belong to running. You don't have to run a million "races" to be a runner. You can be fast, slow, scrawny, heavier, old, young, brand new or have done it for years - you are STILL a runner.

Did you run on National Running Day? Do you enjoy running? What has running taught you?